They have now said they will plead guilty to the charges, added: ‘We will pay our fine and have already instituted changes to our protocols and put them into practice to ensure that these notifications are done every time without fail.’

A statement from Alberta Fish and Wildelife said: ‘Under the terms and conditions of the zoo’s permit, the charges are directly related to the alleged failure of the park to notify the provincial government prior to the bear leaving the zoo.’